MRes Synthetic Biology Research Project

Course Code

BENGG097

Level

M

Credits

120

Module Tutor

Professor John Ward

Assessment

Written report 15,000-18,000 words,
presentation.

Aims

The aims are to
give students intensive hands-on experience in all aspects of original
scientific research from the initial planning of the project and practical
experiments to the analysis and written and oral communication of the findings.
This
Research Project is 8 months of full time laboratory work and involves project
supervisors from across UCL in order for the students to gain the benefit of
internationally recognized researchers in the field of Synthetic Biology.

Learning
Outcomes

1. To
gain in depth knowledge of the theoretical basis underlying the selected
research topic.

2. To
understand the nature of good experimental design.

3. To
know the experimental techniques applicable to the selected research topic

4. To
gain hands-on practical experience of laboratory research

5. To
understand how to analyze original data critically and place it in the context
of what is already known

6. To
gain an understanding of advanced scientific writing in the form of a
dissertation.

7. To
understand how to deliver an oral presentation of research findings.

This
module consists of an extended laboratory based research project. Students will
select a project from a range of topics
offered in the various areas of Synthetic Biology. They will be allocated two
supervisors from different disciplines and carry out an extended research
project in the laboratory of the main supervisor. Within the specified research
area, each student will be given hands on experience in experimental design,
the relevant experimental techniques, data acquistion and analysis, together
with guidance on the theoretical background underlying their project and the
preparation of a dissertation and an oral presentation based on their findings.

Projects
are chosen from a large range of synthetic biology research topics provided by
research groups across UCL and the MRes students work in those research groups
for the 8 months of their project.

The
project will be assessed by submission of a dissertation and all dissertations
will be double marked internally and be subject to Viva examination by an
External Examiner to maintain quality standards. An oral presentation will be
delivered by the student.